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PRESS OF 
DAMERON-PIERSON CO., LTD. 

NEW ORLEANS 



iSi^pnrt 



OF THE 



^oarb of (Hammmmanns 

FOR THE 

BtnU of IGouifiiatta 

1912 



,■■■^-■ 

MEMBERS 



FRANK M. MILLER, President, New Orleans 
Appointed by the Governor 

FRED. J. GRACE, Ex-Officio - Plaquemine 
Register State Land Office 

Prof. W. R. DODSON, Ex-Officio, Baton Rouge 
Director State Experiment Stations 

I I 

JA: ^!3 



"■^x'i :<>;.•■• 





LMOST every one admits the necessity of laws 
for the Conservation of our Natural Resources 
in the way of Game, Fish, Oysters, Shrimp 
and Water Sites. It is conceded that our present laws 
are not perfect, hut this Board believes that the v^ery best 
of foundations were laid down by the last General Assem- 
bly in collaboration with your Excellency, and we trust 
the work will be permitted to go on and be improved, 
until Louisiana shows to all the States of the Union the 
best system whereby the many problems connected with 
this new and almost unknown feature of our body politic 
are solved to the uplift of the State and her sovereign people. 




ANATOMY OF THE OYSTER 
FROM A MODEL IN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 



NO EQUAL AREA 

exists on the earth comparable to Louisiana in the productiveness of her 
lands or the wealth in her waters. We have over 534,700 acres of the finest 
oyster bottoms in this or any other country. Past General Assemblies have 
enacted laws for the conservation of this resource which in the main have 
been good, but only relatively so. It was the opinion of the members of 
the various sessions of that body that it would be better to go slow and sure, 
rather than enact radical laws which might be antagonistic to the devel- 
opment of the business on safe lines. 

During the past year, the citizens engaged in this business mai'keted 
approximately eight hundred thousand barrels of oysters, of an approximate 
value of one million dollars to the fishermen. This is about the maximum pro- 
duction of our bottoms under the present system permitted l)y our laws. 
No great increase can be counted on until the General Assembly enacts a 
law giving our Board authority to adjudicate the trust in the several parishes 
as local conditions determine, or decide to pass a general law forcing a more 
general adoption of the renting system. The former would l)e the most 
logical. The latter' system is a siiia cjuo non to the solution of the problem 
and sooner or later will be incorporated in the law as the policy of the State. 

Another feature sacremental to the continued existence of the resource 
is the return of a part of the oyster shells taken from the natural reefs 
and unleased bottoms, to be placed on other bottoms for the upbuilding and 
continuance of the future supply. 

The triangulation of our oyster bottoms, a most important work which 
has been urged upon us by the experts of the Federal Government, should 
be started at once. Sooner or later this work must be done. With the issu- 
ance of each new lease, the problem of keeping exact field data of all leases 
grows greater. If this Avork is not begun shortly and carried on as the 
income warrants, it will have to be done some day at a vast expenditure of 
time, trouble and labor. Attached to this report is a chart prepared l)y our 
Ghief Surveyor, Frank T. Payne, showing the conditions of the oyster 
resource in St. Bernard Parish. There are fewer leases here than in any 
other parish and it is shown so as to give an idea of the vast importance 
of the work. 

In times past it was the custom to give out statements regarding the 
possible vast income to be derived from the operation of tlie oyster resources 
of the State. This was unfortunate to say the least, and this present Board 
wants to go on record as discountenancing any plan Avhich provides for 
the State to exploit this resource. We believe the business should be 
operated by tlie citizens of the various parishes, and supervised by the State 
on the most economical basis, and that all sur]ilus funds arising therefrom 
should immediately l^e applied to the upljuilding of the resource so that 
each year the condition of the resource as to natural possibilities and to 
business outgrowing therefrom should show a most healthy development. 

—7 — 



OUR FISHERIES 

exist ill cnilirvo and yet tlici'c is no ('(|uai wattT area anywlicre. The possi- 
bilities of our water tor tlic jji-oduetion of fish are almost unbelievable and 
only nee(ls seicntifie (levelopineni to make out streams the ])erennial source 
of a vast quantity of tootlisoiiie and valuahle food t-onimoditv. to he sold 
in tbe markets of the world. 

The practice of dynamiting our streams was larij-ely jirevalent tlirouuli- 
out the State before we took bold of the work, but thanks to the activity 
of the wardens and the stimulus of a reward of fiftv dollars for evidence 
sufficient to convict the guilty parties, we have ahnost Ijroken up this rc]tre- 
hensible practice. 

We have planned the erection of two fish batchcries b)r the ])roduction 
of black bass or green tiout. One in the Southern the other in the Northern 
part of the State. 

The ])resent fish law is tbe l)eginning of tbe develoiiment of this resource 
and is only an experiment. Unfortunately, the class of citizens which it 
seeks to control is the most independent and the most iin]n-ovident of all 
citizens. After one hundred years of effort thev have nothing to show for 
all their labor but -the direst poverty, for tbe sini])le reason that the State 
has neglected them and tbe marvelous ]jossil)ilities of the food, su])]dv thev 
handle. 

We would arouse the peo])le to tbe iiii])()rtance of this (|uestion. l:)elieving 
the time has come wdien the antiquated methods of tbe ])resent should give wav 
and tbe business jdaced on a firm and enduring basis wherehy it could grow 
and expand into the magnitude to which it is entitled. In fact, tbe General 
Assembly must either do this, or abandon the resource altogether and allow 
it to be dissi])ated through the neglect of tliose who hitherto have almost 
destroyed it through their ignorance of and indifference to its wonderful value. 

We wish it were ]iossihle to begin an immediate development of tbe 
resource. Before doing so, however, two grave ]3rnblems intimately connected 
therewith must be settled. Tbe first relates to the destruction of the water 
hyacinth, which in some ])arts of the State has taken complete possession 
of the streams. 'Idie Federal Government is working on the problem and 
after seeing what they can do. or rather what they cannot do towards the 
eradication of the ])est, we are conscious that the State has a stu]3endous 
undertaking on its hands. 

The second obstacle is tbe eiioruious increase of gar fish inhal)iting our 
streams with the result of destroying the game fish therein at such an alarm- 
ing rate that something must be done and done soon to stop a threatened 
disaster. After a thorough investig;dion l)y Prof. Beyer of Tulane University, 
we believe the most essential tlniig to prevent this is the re-establishment 
of the alligators in our streams. Formerly they were plentiful, but in 
recent years the hide dealeis have practically exterminated them with the 
result of taking away tlie check which nature had ]ilaced against the undue 
increase of the gar fish. A State law for the iirotection of alligators must 
first be enacted liy tbe (icneral As^emldy ere aiiv amelioration or iiniu'ove- 
iiient of the ])reseiit combtion of our streams can lie expected. 

(Commercial fisheries on a vast scale are the possibilities of our unrivalled 
water area. The Federal Government has proposed the establishment of 
a great fish hatchery on tbe Atchafalaya Eiver for the propagation of cat 
fish. It is needless however, to expect the inauguration of any such wort 
as long as tbe State has no settled policy regarding the conservation of 
her resources. 



In order to determine what was a right policy, we solicited the Federal 
Bureau of Fisheries to find us a first class fish culturist, and later on they 
recommended E. A. Tulian, lately Fisli Commissioner of the Argentine 
Republic. 

The most painstaking investigations of the streams of the State were 
made by him and we are now fully conscious of the State's needs and only 
await the ap])roval of the (leneral Asse]nl)ly to begin active work on the 
solution of the various problems. The State stands at the parting of the 
ways and a most momentous question will have to be settled by the next 
General Asseml)ly. Either this vast resource must be conserved on lines 
already laid down, or be allowed to die through want of proper care. 

THE LAST GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

enacted a law for the i)rotection of Salt Water Shrini]). ISTo sooner did we 
attempt to enforce it than an injunction was taken out against us in the 
Federal District Court by Two CJiiiKinini who had for years benefited by the 
Sfates hospitality and indifi'erence to tlie worth of the resource. We defeated 
them in that Court, whereupon they took an a]i]ieal to the Su])reme Court 
of the United States, thereby putting the State to great expense and trouble, 
in addition to having set aside the ])]ain mandate of the last General 
Assemlily. 

Under these circumstances, your Board l)elieves the tiinc lias come when 
the resource could more profitably bo handled l)y citizens of our own State 
and placed upon the market as a Louisiana product, which we regret to 
say the citizens of another State wlio liave hitherto handled the commodity, 
have failed to do. 

Due to the fact tliat the various interests have never been able to agree 
on any measure of conservation for this resource, no laws for the protection 
of lake shrimp (peneaus setipherous) were enacted by the General Assembly 
previous to the last one. In consequence of this neglect the annual catch 
has dro])ped down to ten million pounds of an annual value of three hundred 
thousand dollars (.$;]On,()(in.O() ) and it will l)e many years ere the resource 
can 1)0 brought to its maximum annual production of, we believe, one 
hundred million ])ounds of edil)le food. 

THE QUESTION OF 

Game Preserves has received considerable attention by the sportsmen of 
our own and other States since the last General Assemhly set aside and 
placed under the control of our Board some State lands located in Caldwell 
and Plaquemines Parishes. Edward Avery Mcllhenny of Avery Island and 
Charles Willis Ward, late of Michigan, have given to the vState under our 
control 13,000 acres of the finest marsh lands located in Vermilion Parish. 
Louisiana, the winter home of the migratory ducks and geese, thus leads 
the way to a better safe-guarding for all future time of these winter 
habitants, and sportsmen everywhere have hailed this donation and the work 
of your Board as one of the greatest features of game conservation in this 
country. 

GAME PROTECTION. 

We now take uj) for consideration the most important work we have 
been engaged in, to-wit : the preservation of the game animals of the State 
and the inauguration of a paid game warden service. 

The history of game protection in this State, until recent 3'ears, has 
been one long series of failures. In the year 1857, the first law for the 

—9— 



protection of gixme hirds was ]iassofl by tlie General Asscml)ly. In it the 
control of the game in 8t. Bernard Parisli was given to tlie Police Jury of 
that Parish. 

Twenty years afterwards, in the year 1877, the General Assom1)ly dele- 
gated to the Police Juries of all the parishes the same right. 

As far as we can learn, no parish took advantage of this permission and 
in consequence, the State escaped the unfortunate experience of some of the 
other States in having a multi])licity of local ordinances. 

Five years afterwards, in the year 1883, the General Assembly re-en- 
acted the Act of 1877. But still no Police Jury of any Parish would take 
advantage of the permission so given. 

In the year 1896, after thirty-nine years of failure, the General Assem- 
bly of that year enacted a most sweeping act, granting to the Police Juries 
of tlie several parishes of the State, authority to pass such ordinances "AS 
THF.Y MAY DEEM PROPEP for the preservation of wild game and g-ame 
fish." 

EVEN THIS SWEEPING LAW 

was not sufficient. It was found that wliile the General Assembly could 
enact laws giving absolute power to the Police Juries to protect game and 
fish, the parish boards eitlier would not enact suitable ordinances or had 
no means to enforce them if thev did so. The result being an absolute and 
disheartening failure and in all attem]:)ts at the solution of the problem 
this experience of the State with the Police Juries should never be lost 
sight of. 

In the year 1898, the General Asseml)ly began to exi^eriment with State 
control, and in the year 1900 re-enacted the same kind of law. 

The State, however, could do no better than the Parish Police Juries 
for the reason that there was no agency, nor no money to ])ay an agency 
to enforce the law. So in 1902, the General Assembly went liack to the 
Police Jury idea, giving them power "to a]5])oint Game Wardens, to define 
their duties and to provide for their compensation." 

Anyone familiar with the pressing demands for money to carry on the 
necessary work of the various parishes might have known tliat this experi- 
ment was doomed to failure, but such thoughts were not considered, it l)eing 
conceded that paid Game Wardens to enforce the Game Laws were as necessary 
as the Game Laws themselves. Thus after forty-five years struggling with 
Game Laws, the General Assembly at last reached the conclusion that it 
was futile to enact more laws until they had first ])rovided some ]iaid agency 
to enforce what laws they created. 

Just at this time when game production had sunk to the lowest state 
of public indifference, the Audubon Society, composed of citizens of the 
State was inaugurated and began a campaign of education on the value of 
insectivorous birds to the agricidtural interests of the State. They showed 
by indisputable evidence the tremendous losses and waste of resources that 
had been suffered by the people of the State. To clinch the argument and 
just at this moment, the boll weevil made its appearance with the result 
that our cotton planters and allied business interests were almost ruined. 
This was an object lesson in bird destruction which could not be ig-nored, 
and sentiment for the protection of insectivorous l)irds as well as game 
birds began to rapidly manifest itself all over the State. 

In the years 1904 and 1906, the General Assembly was engaged in 
trying to solve the problem and at last, in the year 1908, after fifty- 
one years of experimentation, they created the Board of Commissioners for 

—10— 



the Protection of Birds, Game and Fish, with authority to appoint the Game 
Wardens which they knew were al)solntely essential in the solution of the 
problem, and makino- it coni])i;lsory on everyone who killed game either for 
pleasure or for profit, to ])ay an annual license to defray the cost of this 
paid Warden service. 

Since that day, the Board of C*oininissioners has been eno-aged in try- 
ing to solve the innumerable problems connected with the conservation of 
these i^atural Resources. 

THE WARDEN SERVICE 

always has been and ])robal)ly always will be siibject to criticism. One man 
only can be appointed in the large majority of the parishes. All the other 
applicants (and there are very many) at once feel aggrieved and it is but 
natural to expect them to vent tlieir disappointment in fault-finding. 

A feature in line with tliis fault-finding by the disappointed office 
seekers, is the way in which the Warden service has been condemned by 
those who do not hunt or pay for a hunting license. This is a never ending 
source of surprise to the members of your Board. This whole movement 
for the conservation of game was started by the sportsmen who earlier than 
the members of the General Assembly, realized that without a paid Warden 
service there never could be enforcement of the game laws and Mdio willingly 
assess themselves this tax to carry on the work and thus save the State from 
appropriating from the General Fund a sum of money sufficient to pay for 
same. We therefore respectfully urge upon the members of the General 
Assembly the reasonableness of ignoring the criticisms of tliose Avho are not 
financially interested in the problem. 

The Warden service is also condemned in ])arishes where the game has 
disa])peared, and yet there is no other way that can be imagined than to 
rigidly enforce the game laws during the breeding season so as to aid nature 
in her effort to bring back the former plenty, and this is impossible of 
accomplishment without a paid service. The fact of the matter is that 
game preservation without a yiaid warden service is an absolute impossibilit}''. 

Such being the case the most important question is how to get the 
best service, for the sportsmen who ]iay for the service want the best to be had. 

We have listened to every manner of suggestion as to the improvement 
of tlie warden service. After weighing the merits of each, we take the 
liberty of suggesting the following plan which seems to meet many of the 
objections urged against the ])resent system. All applicants to register them- 
selves with the Board, to sulnnit themselves for competitive examination 
as to their mental, moral and physical fitness and the one securing the 
highest percentage to be a]ipointed. With competitive examinations and 
close supervision to maintain efficiency, we l^elieve the State can give the 
sportsmen what tliey want and pay for. 

IN LOOKING BACK 

over the four years of the existence of the C*ommission and the Warden 
Service, the members of the Board ai'e anuized at the changes which have 
taken place. Before we began work, the shi]3ment of wild ducks to the 
Xorthern markets during the hunting season had assumed colossal propor- 
tions. This has been Ijroken up and only a few l)irds are now surreptitiously 
shipped out of the State. 

New York bird dealers were responsible for an annual loss to the 
State of probably 25,000 mocking birds. This has been broken up and 

—11— 



everyone, from one end (if tlie State to the otlier, lias noticed liow tlie mock- 
ing birds haA-e increased. 

One of the singiihir results of the activities of tlie Wai'dens has been 
the disappearance of the "])ot-lunit('r"' throniiiiont tlie State. Formerly he 
killed everything that tlew, lioth in ami out of season. Xow in many 
instances, he does not even carry a gnn. 

The most astonishing thing, however, is the unprecedente(l increase 
of onr stock of quail or bol) white, and, doves, due altogether to the fact 
that our wardens have kept the hunters out of the fields during the breed- 
ing season, and if the Oenera! Assemlily wnuld enact a State dog license 
law which would result in getting ritl of the vast lioi'de of cur dogs, the 
result WDuld 1)0 such an increase of (|uail that they would liecome a common 
article of diet. 

NATURE IS SO WONDERFULLY 

prolific within the hounds of (tur Statt', that if only the General Assembly 
would decide to place this Board on tlie.sanie plane of responsibility that 
it has placed many other Boards, such as the State Board of Health, the 
Levee Boards, the Prison Board, and the I'ailroad Commission, and allow 
it to solve within constitutional limitations, the innuinoi-alilc i)roblenis con- 
nected with game ])reservation as they ai'ise, Louisiana could be made the 
greatest game area within the L'nion. 

For instance Ave intend to ask the General Assembly to take the time 
to pass an Act for the protection of ral)bits. Xo one particularly cares 
to have rabbits protected, yet we are forced to ask this for the reason that 
in some ])arishes Avhere objection to the game law exists, due to the fact 
that there is no game there, the hunters have been told; to tell our Avardens 
that they are out liunting rablnts and need no license. Thereby breaking 
the spirit of the law Avhile acknowledging the force of the letter. 

SeA^enty-five thousand sportsmen find pleasure in hunting Avhile about 
GOO market hunters supply the tables of those of our citizens who do not 
hunt and the vast nimiber of strangers avIio visit our restaurants and hotels 
during the season Avhen game may be sold. Lnder our ]iresent law a most 
unjust arrangem.ent prevails Avith the uuirket buntt'r and should 1)0 cor- 
rected. A heaA-y tax falls on him, wlnle the ])eo])le Avho buy game in th.e 
markets, hotels and restaurants do not cunli'ibute one i)enny to the su])])ort 
of the Commission and its various activities. We are therefore asking the 
General Assembly to make a change in the present law l)y i^ermitting the 
market hunter to hunt under a dollar license and making the retailer place 
on each dead bird a license tag, the cost of Avhich be will ])roceed to collect 
from the consumer Avho by right should, ])ay the tax and Avho cannot legiti- 
mately com])lain of such action. 

VALUE OF GAME KILLED. 

The question naturallv ])rcsents itself as to what these Tr),OnO sportsmen 
receiA^e in return for tlieir dollar ])ermit to hunt and kill the game Avhich 
by legislative enactment and dcei-ce of the United State?^ Supi'eiue Court 
belongs unconditionally to the State. Pi'obablv no two ansAvers woCild agree 
and ours is only an ajjproxiniate one, l)ut after ])ainstaking iuA'-estigations 
Ave believe irrespective of all other considerations other than the monetary 
one, that the total kill of game birds and animals and fur-liearing animals 
has a net annual value of considerably more than two million dollars Avith 
a constantly increasing annual value due to the suiiervision of the Avarden 
service during the breeding season. The pleasure Avhich the sportsmen deriA'e 
from the ])ursuit of game, Ave admit is the main factor in the sale of the 

—1:2— 



licenses, yet nevertheless the monetary aspect is there and shonld l)e con- 
sidered when the suhject is before the people for discussion. 

One feature of game protection will have to be seriously considered by 
the next General Assenil:)ly. The amateur sportsmen, who support the 
Commission and its warden service Ijy means of their dollar license, 
are going to demand the enactment of a law prohibiting the sale of game 
animals and game birds, except ducks. j\Iany States of the Union have 
already adopted this profiso and it is a serious question whether Louisiana 
shall fall in line or not. 'J'hc s])ortsmen themselves will present this question 
to the General Assembly on its merits. 

The trust committed to the care of your Board is of such immense value 
and importance to tlic ])eo])le of the State, that it is difficult to compress a 
report on same witliin reasonal)le readable limits, or not to speak of it in 
terms of great enthusiasm. 

Innmlierable details connected Avith its development must be worked 
out, but with care and patience and time, we believe it is possible to do 
this and make the work a grand success. It is necessary, however, that 
the General x\ssembly should decide upon some fixed policy to Conserve our 
Great Natural Eesonrces, so that the work could be laid out on a com- 
prehensive plan and l^e carried out as income and op]iortunity warrants. 

Forty-two States of the Union have a similar system or parts of it 
which the last General Assembly enacted into law in the belief that they 
were solving the Conservation problems confronting us in this State, and 
it is earnestly hoped that this great and grand work shall not fail of final 
and complete accomplishment. 

The gross annual value of the resources controlled by this Board are 
stu])endous in their present aggregate. But more sur])rising than the present 
is the prospective value of this natural food sui)iily. It now has an annual 
value of approximately three million, eight hundred and seventy tliousand 
dollars ($3,870,000.00). Under wise conservation plans these resources irre- 
spective of the oyster resource may l)e largely increased. In the oyster 
resource, the State has an asset more valuable than any gold mine, for the 
reason that it is capable of unlimited develo]unent and unlike any gold mine, 
may be made more valuable each yeai'. 

More laws have been enacted and more work done for the Conservation 
of these great resources during the Administration of your Excellency than 
was done in the whole previous history of the State. The result is that 
Louisiana, in this respect, leads every other State of the Union. Such 
pre-eminence is dangerous in the extreme in that a reactionary wave of 
sentiment may occur in which this pre-eminence may be endangered. We 
therefore urge with all our might the necessity of great caution in making 
changes in the system of handling these vast sources of natural wealth 
which by legislative enactment have been declared to be the ])ro])erty of 
the people of the State. By the singular bounty of the Providence of God, 
Louisiana stands pre-eminent in her wealth of natural food supply, that 
she may remain so is the earnest desire of 

Yours very res]3ectfully, 
BOABD OF COMMISSION'ERS FOR THE 
PROTECTTOX OF BIRDS, GAME AND FISH, 

Frank M. Miller, 

President. 
To His Excellency, Jared Youncx Sanders, 
Governor of the State of Louisiana. 

—13— 



The following list shows the present manner in which the preservation 
and protection of game is taken care of in the various States of the Union : 

Supervision UiVder a State Gaime Commission or Board — 18. 

Arizona New Jersey 

California New York 

Connecticut North Carolina 

Delaware North Dakota 

Louisiana Ohio 

Maine Oregon 

Massachusetts Penns3dvania 

Minnesota Ehode Island 

New Hampshire Wyoming 

Supervision Under a State Game Commissioner or Warden — 24. 

Alabama . Nebraska 

Colorado New Mexico 

Georgia Oklahoma 

Idaho Soutli Carolina 

Illinois South Dakota 

Indiana Tennessee 

Iowa Texas 

Kansas Utah 

Mar^dand Vermont 

Michigan Washington 

Missouri West Virginia 

Montana Wisconsin 

States Having Local or County Supervision — 6. 

Arkansas Mississippi 

Florida Nevada 

Kentucky Virginia 

In most all the States in the first two classifications, the head of the 
department is appointed by the Governor of the State. In Alabama alone, 
he is elected by the people. The salaries vary from $1,000.00 in New Hamp- 
shire to $10,000.00 in New York. The terms of office run from two years 
in Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Vermont and 
Wisconsin, to six years in New York and eight years in Tennessee, the usual 
term being four years. 

THE WARDEN SERVICE 

in the various States is subject to changes, but our latest advices are as 
follows : 

ALABAMA 

Appointed by the Commissioner ; fee that of a constable, one-half the 
fines, and $3.00 per day when serving under special instructions. 

CALIFORNIA 

Appointed by the Board of Supervisors; salary $50.00 to $12-5.00 per 
month, according to the population of the County ; allowance for traveling 
expenses, $25.00 per month. This system is in effect in only about one- 
third of the Counties. In addition the Board of Fish and Game Commis- 

—14— 



sioners appoints a number of clejmties at $75.00 per month, but this com- 
pensation is reguLated by the Board and not by the statute. 

CONNECTICUT 

Appointed by Commissioners; fee of $10.00 in case of conviction. 

FLORIDA 

Appointed by the Governor on recommendation of County Commis- 
sioners (on request of 75 free holders) ; sahiry not exceeding $60.00 a month. 

GEORGIA 

Appointed by Commissioners; compensation $3.00 ])ev day during time 
of actual service, payalile from the game protection fund. The County 
Wardens, in addition to receiving a per diem, are entitled to three-fourths 
of the fine where they make the arrest and furnish all the evidence, and 
one-fouth of the fines where they do not furnish the evidence necessary 
to convict. 

ILLINOIS 

One for each County, appointed by the Commissioner; compensation 
not exceeding $2.00 per day, necessary traveling expenses and one-half of 
all fines in cases where they file complaints. In addition to its County 
Wardens, Illinois has 16 State or District Wardens under salaries of $900.00 
per annum and necessary expenses. It also provides for the appointment of 
special wardens who receive half the fines in cases in which they file 
complaints. 

KANSAS 

Appointed by State Warden on request of 10 resident tax payers; fee 
of $10.00 collected as costs of defendent in case of conviction. 

KENTUCKY 

Appointed by the County Judges; compensation residue of all fines 
in cases prosecuted by them after the payment of costs. 

MICHIGAN 

Appointed by the State Warden; compensation such as County Super- 
visors provide. This State has 10 deputy Game, Fish and Forestry Wardens 
at $1,000.00 per annum and traveling expenses, and a Chief Deputy at a 
salary of $1,800.00 per annum and traveling expenses of $1,200.00. Other 
deputies receive $3.00 per day and traveling expenses. 

MISSISSIPPI 

Appointed by Board of Supervisors on recommendation of 10 or more 
citizens; compensation fixed by Board of Supervisors, paid from County 
forest and game protective fund made up of all license fees. 

NEVADA 

Appointed by JBoard of County Commissioners on ])etition of 20 resident 
tax payers; salary $20.00 to $100.00 per month, payable from the Fish and 
Game "Preservation Fund, but in case of deficiency, from' the General Fund 
of the County. 

NEW MEXICO 

Appointed by Territorial Warden; compensation one-half of fines in 
cases prosecuted or instituted by them. 

—15— 



NORTH CAROLINA 

Various provisions in the different Counties. 

SOUTH CAROLINA 

The Chief Warden is authorized to a])point deputies at a salary of not 
to exceed $1,200.00 and expenses of $(JO(».<)0 ])er annum. 

TENNESSEE 

A])])ointed by State Warden; compensation all lines, etc., in cases pro- 
secuted ])\ them. 

VERMONT 

Appointed by the Ct)nnnissioner ; com])ensation not exceedino- $75.00 
a month or $3.00 per day and actual expenses. In addition to County 
Wardens, Deputy Wardens may be appointed at $2.00 per day and necessary 
expenses. 

VIRGINIA 

Magisterial District Warden appointed by tlie Circuit Judge on appli- 
cation of five resident freeholders ; com])ensati(m, $2.50 assessed against 
defendants in each conviction. 

WASHINGTON 

xlppointed l)y County Commissioners (upon application of 100 tax 
])ayers) ; salary, $25.00 to $100.00 per month, ]:)aid from the game protection 
fund of the county. 

WISCONSIN 

Selected l)y Board of Appointment (consisting of the County Judge, 
District Attorney and County Clerk) and appointed by State Warden ; com- 
pensation fixed by appointing Board and paid from the County Treasury. 
The State has -a regular force of not to exceed GO Deputy Game Wardens, 
one from each Senatorial District and half appointed from the State at 
large. The salaries are fixed by the State Warden. The salaries are now 
graded according to character of work and vary from $2.50 to $-4.00 per day. 

WYOMING 

One or more for each County, appointed by State Game Warden (sub- 
ject to approval of State Game Commission) ; compensation, $3.00 per day 
durino- time of actual service. 



-10 - 



Financial statement of the Board of Commissioners for the Protection 
of Birds, Game and Fish, from August, 1910, date of incorp;;)ration, to June 
30, 1911, inclusive. 

RECEIPTS 

Sale of Hunting Licenses $ 75,857.50 

Sale of Fishing^Licenses 5,630.00 

Sale of Shrimping Licenses 1,683.00 

. Sale of Ovstering Operations 6,-J:59.50 

Sale of dvster Eentals 12,814.10 

Tax of 3 cts. ]3er IjbL, Oysters 19,682.34 

Balance from Old Board of Commissioners 2,648.56 

Miscellaneous 4,306.90 



Total $129,081.86 

EXPENDITURES 

Wardens Salaries $ 53,450.41 

Oyster Inspectors Salaries 7,479.10 

Launch Salaries and Supplies 11,374.08 

Oyster Department Salaries 7,749.90 

Office Salaries 10,791.66 

Fisheries Department Salaries 1,572.20 

Office Expenses 3,603.49 

Upkeep of Launches 5,928.07 

Printing and Stationery 1,802.78 

Conservation Work 3,561.70 

Bird and Fish Exhibit 842.16 

Postage 441.58 

Commissioners Expenses 484.00 

Building Account 562.06 

Survevs" of Ovster Eeefs 2,198.46 

Bills of Old Ovster Commission 14,785.06 



$126,626.71 
Balance in Bank 2,455.15 



$129,081.86 



-17— 



Financial Statement of the Board of Commissioners for the Protection 
of Birds, Game and Fish, from Jidy 1st, 1911, to December 31st, 1911. 

RECEPITS 

Sale of Hunting- Licenses and Other Eeceipts in 

Game Department $39,275.32 

Oyster Department 26,270.23 

Fresh Water Department 3,652.50 

Salt Water Department 2,046.00 

71,244.05 
Balance in Bank July 1st 2,455.15 

$73,699.20 

EXPENDITURES 

Wardens Salaries and Expenses $33,185.77 

Oyster Department Salaries 9,883.13 

Launch Salaries and Upkeep 13,598.97 

Office Salaries 8,176.63 

Office Expenses 6,077.28 

Fish Department Salaries and Expenses 2,949.98 

Game Conservation 959.66 

Fish Conservation 327.77 



75,159.19 
Excess 1,459.99 

$73,699.20 



-18— 



Since the organization of the Oyster Commission in 1003, and tlie Board 
of Commissioners for the Protection of Birds, Game and Fish in 1908, 
there have been taken from the fnnds of these two Boards and paid into 
the State Treasury, a total amount of $90,633.99, ont of which the General 
Assembly made appropriations as follows : 

From the Oyster Commission : 

1906 Court Costs in Boundary Suit (Approximately) $13,000.00 

1907 Deposited with the State Treasurer for credit of the 

Good Eoads and School Fund 10,057.51 

1907 Paid Special Attorneys, Dymond & Zacherie, in 
Boundary Suit as per Act 143 of 1906 30,000.00 

1908 Paid to the State Board of Engineers in part pay- 
ment of buoys marking the boundary line between 

the States of Louisiana and Mississippi 3,000.00 

From the Board of Commissioners for tfie 
Protectiox of Birds, Game and Fish : 

1909 Deposited with the State Treasurer to the credit of 

the General Fund by Act of the Legislature of 1909, 30,000.00 

1910 Paid Doullet & Williams, Contractors, balance due 
on construction of buoys marking the ]\Iississippi- 
Louisiana boundary line 5,575.48 



Total $90,633.99 



-19- 



Act 265 of 1910 creating tliis Board, stipulated tliat we should ])re])are 
a printed annual report, the same to include an estimate of ])roposed exi)en- 
dihircs and expenses for the two ensuing years. We therefore l)eo- to state 
that in oi'der to develo]) the natural resources of the IS'tate committed to 
our cai'c on a scale commensurate with tlicii' im])ortance we will need the 
following" sums of money: 

Two Fish Hatcheries $ 35,000.00 

One Biologic Station 5,000.00 

Triangulation Work, at least 25,000.00 

One Large Power Boat ..*i ll.ooO.OO 

One Small Power Boat ;!.000.00 

Pehuilding Stations 3,000.00 

Capt. Doiallut's Bill 2,000.00 

Work in Plaquemines Parish on Oyster Iiesource 75,(HM).()0 

— $149,000.00 
ANNUAL WAGES EXPENDITURES 

Office Department $ 19,SSO.0O 

Game Department (iS.400.00 

Oyster De])artment l(i,(;80.00 

Fish Department 3,700.00 

Boat Department 18,520.00 

Total for One Year -$128,180.00 

Total for 1^vo Years — $250,300.00 

OTHER EXPENDITURES 

Upkeep of Boats $ 7,000.00 

Office Expenses 8,000.00 

Printing, Stationery and Postage 3,000.00 

X'ommissioners Expenses 5(io.()0 

Sundries 1. ()()(). 00 

Total for One Year $19,500.00 

Total for Two Years — $ 39,000.00 



Estimated Exi)enditure for Two Years $444,360.00 



—20— 



ESTI5V1ATED VALUE OF ASSETS 
OYSTER RESOURCES 

Area of Good BoTTo:\rs Susceptible of Culture. 

St. Bernard 146,500 Acres 

Plaquemines 171,000 " 

Jefferson 28,000 " 

Lafourche 3,000 " 

Terrebonne 132,000 " 

St. Mary 4:0 ^^ 

Iberia 2 1 

Vermilion 90*^ 

Cameron •''*^*^ 



471,9(31 Acres fa' $1.00=$-i71,9fil.00 
Area of Xatural Reefs. 



St Bernard 3,040 Acres 

Plaquemines 6,000 

Terrebonne 3,200 

Cameron 500 

Point-au-Fer 50,000 " 



62,730 Acres (a $3.00=$1SS,330.00 



$660,181.00 

GAME PRESERVES 

13,000 Acres Vermilion Parish (co $5.00 $65,000.00 

30,000 Acres Plaquemines Parish ^ 3.00 90,000.00 

6,000 Acres Caldwell Parish @ 5.00 30,000.00 

—$185,000.00 

HOUSES, ETC. 

Cameron, 1 Station, 1 House ^"o A^ilue 

Chef Menteur, 1 House $1,300.00 

Eigolets, I House 500.00 

Dunbar, 1 House 300,00 

Office Furniture 2,100.00 

Exhibit 2,500.00 

— $ 6,600.00 

BOATS 

16 Boats of A^arious Sizes 17,87000 

Grand Total Estimated Value of Assets $869,651.00 

—21— 



CHIEF SURVEYOR'S REPORT 

To THE Honorable Eoakd of Com.missioxehs for 

THE Protection of Rfuds, Ca:me and Fish. 
Gentlemen : 

In accordance with yonr instructions, I liave tlie honor to sul)niit the 
following report : 

By virtne of Act 189 of 1910, the Oyster Commission of Louisiana was 
consolidated with tlie Board of Commissioners for the Protection of Birds, 
Game and Fish, and new officers were appointed to administer its affairs. 

The present Commission, immediately after its appointment and organi- 
zation, set a])ont to make a thorough investigation of the Oyster industry 
of the State, and to inaugurate a new system of management. 

The industry has, in the past two years, shown a consistent and satis- 
factory growth. 4,451.38 acres of new hottoms were leased and 1,433,205 
barrels of oysters were gathered. The crop of 1911 being 661,094 barrels 
and that of 1913, 771.111 liarrels — showing an incease of 110,017 barrels. 

FACTORIES AND SHUCKING PLANTS 

Canning Factories in Operation. 

Xo. Factories Oysters Canned 

1911 5 308,313 barrelrf 

1913 6 413,963 barrels 

Shucking Plants or Paw Shops. 

Oysters shucked 
...Number and shi])]ied 

1911 51 353.781 barrels 

1913 57 357,148 barrels 

The shucking or opening of raw oysters for shipment out of the State 
has developed and increased ra])idly and is now a most important branch 
of the industry. 

PATROL BOATS 

The boats '^'Louisiana", "Poyal Tern", "Opelousas" and "Baton Pouge" 
have rendered active and efficient service in ])atr()ling the waters of Lake 
Borgne and Mississippi Sound. 

SURVEY OF NATURAL REEFS 

A survey was made of tlie natural reefs in the State during September, 
October and November, 1910, and, in conformity with Section 6 of the 
foregoing Act, the following reefs were set aside for public fishing and seed 
purposes : 

St. Bernard Parish — Grand Pass, Creole Gap and Cabbage 

Peefs ^... 3,040 Acres 

Plaquemines Parish — Quarantine and California Bays 6. 000 Acres 

Terrel^onne Parish — Point-au-Fer, Bav Junop and South and 

East part of Sister Lake 53,300 Acres 

Cameron Parish — Mouth of Calcasieu Eiver 500 Acres 

Total 63,740 Acres 

90 



HISTORY OF THE OYSTER LAWS OF STATE 

The earliest wliite settlers of Louisiana found oysters growing naturally 
on the reefs and these were gathered for local consumption. Gradually these 
persons, in answer to commercial demands, hegan to supply the 'New Orleans 
market and those living too far from the reefs to personally fish their own 
supply. 

As the population increased and the demand grew larger, more people 
engaged in the industry. It was soon learned, however, owing to the most 
crude and wasteful manner of fishing and culling, that the supply was 
gradually becoming exhausted and the reefs exterminated. 

This created dissatisfaction and engendered discussion. Legal restric- 
tions must be applied to save the industry, was the consensus of opinion. 

Accordingly, for the first time in the history of the State, the Legislature 
was appealed to and in 1870 it passed Act No. 18, which made a close 
season from April 1st to Septeml^er 15th, and provided penalties for the 
taking or fishing of oysters during this time. 

In 1871, by Act No. 91, the close season was made from May 1st to 
September 15th. 

The law embodied in these Acts was never enforced, and the depletion 
and destruction of the reefs continued rapidly. 

So in 1886, the Legislature was again applied to for relief and Act 
No. 106 of that year was passed. 

This Act authorized the leasing of water bottoms, not to exceed thi-ee 
acres to any one person or corporation, the imposing of licenses and taxes 
on boats and tongmen (one-half of the net amount derived from these rents, 
licenses and taxes to be equally divided between the parishes and the State) 
and placing the oyster industry of each parish in the absolute control of the 
Police Jury of that parish. 

This law was detrimental to the industry. The oysters within the 
confines of a parish were considered the exclusive ]iroperty of that parish and 
could be fished only by her own people, consequently frequent clashes occurred 
between citizens of one parish entering that of another in search of market- 
able oysters and seed for bedding purposes. 

In 1892, this Act was superseded by Act No. 110 of that year which 
made no change beyond increasing the area subject to lease from three (3) 
to ten (10) acres. 

This Act was superseded by Act 131 of 1896. The only material change 
made was to relieve from taxation oysters bedded on leased bottoms. 

All of these laws were disregarded and fell into contempt. In the 
meantime, the supply fell short of the demand as the natural reefs (the only 
source of supply) were being depleted and destroyed. 

New legislation was imperative, consequently the matter was discussed 
in the Legislature during the sessions of 1900 and a Committee (three (3) 
from the House and two (2) from the Senate) was appointed to examine 
into the oyster industry of the State and to formulate a bill for its im- 
provement and present same at the next session of the General Assembly. 

The General Assembly which convened in 1902 received the report of the 
Committee appointed in 1900. This report, coupled with recommendations 
made by Mr. H. F. ]\Ioore of the United States Fish Commission, was the 
basis of a general oyster law. The law was materially amended in 1904, 
1906 and 1910, and as it now stands on the statute books. 



^Messrs. H. F. IMoore and T. K. B. Tope of the United States Bureau 
of Fisheries make the followin^^- eoininent on tlie ]n-esent hiw in tlieir "Oyster 
Culture and Experiments and Investigations in Louisiana." 

"The fundamental feature of the new law was the creation of a State 
Oyster Commission having sole jurisdiction, in oysters and cognate matters, 
over the entire coast, insuring consistency and uniformity of administration, 
and endowed with ample police powers to enforce the laws which under the old 
regime were disregarded with impunity." 

The eifects of the law were almost immediately a])])areut in the growth 
of the oyster industry. 

Prior to its passage jurisdiction over the oyster hottoms was, as noted 
above, lodged solely in the Police Juries of the several coastal parishes, with 
the result that the administration of the laws was contradictory and in- 
effective. The potential wealth lying concealed beneath the tide waters 
of the State was not appreciated and the oyster industry was neither pro- 
tected nor fostered. 

Partly on account of the unusually favoral)le natural conditions under 
which the oyster industry is conducted in Louisiana, l)ut largely by reason 
of the protection which the laws accord to the natural beds and the en- 
couragement which they extend to oyster culture, the oyster fishing of the 
State has made extraordinary progress since the establishment of the Com- 
mission. 

In the five years preceding the enactment of the first oyster law, the 
increase in the production, which was mainly from natural beds, was 20 
per cent., while in the first five years folloAving the passage of the act, 
the increase was 154 P''>' c'nt. 

The natural l)eds of the State are now priiducing about two-fifths of 
the output, while the remaining three-fifths are taken from planted beds. 

The increase in the area of the bottoms leased since the enactment of 
the present laws has been astonishing. 

From 1885 to 1903. under i)arisli administration, 521 leases, covering 
2,820 acres had been executed, a great many of which had lapsed. 

To-day there are 1,7(52 leases covering 17,072.9-1: acres. 

Xature has been more bountiful to us in our water wealth than to any 
State in the Union. Greater possibilities are here offered, in the oyster 
industry, than elsewhere, but it will require persistent labor, intelligence, 
and capital to properly develop this industry, and, more than all, proper 
laws judiciously administered. 

OYSTER CONDITIONS OF TO-DAY 

The coast line of Louisiana, bcu'dering on the Gulf of Mexico, comprises 
the following oyster producing parishes: St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, 
Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Mary, Iberia, A^erniilion and Cameron. Their 
shores are largely indented with bays, lakes and bavous. where the tide ebbs 
and flows daily, mixing the salt waters of the Gulf of Mexico with the 
fresh waters of the Mississippi Eiver, its tributaries, and other streams, thus 
producing ideal conditions for oyster life and culture. 

ST. BERNARD PARISH 

This is the most easterly of the oyster "|jroducing parishes. It has an 
area of 146,500 acres of oyster producing bottoms susceptible of oyster 
culture — extending from the Mississip])i l)oundary line on the I^orth to 
Plaquemines Parish on the South, and from the Chandeleur Sound on the 
East to the zone where the water becomes too fresh to support oyster life. 

—24— 



This region is known as the "Louisiana Marsh." 

The largest natural reefs in the State, from a coininereial Yie\v])oint, 
are located in this parish and are known as Creole Gap, Grand Pass and 
Cabbage Beefs. These reefs, in the past, and are now supplying the stock 
for the steam packing plants at Dunbar and Violet, also oysters for the raw 
trade shipments. 

Continual dredging and the lax enforcement of the culling laws has, 
however, materially affected the output of these reefs. 

The remaining beds in this parish, especially those in Bay Boudreau 
and adjacent waters have, up to the past two years, yielded large quantities 
of oysters, principally for the raw trade and for the New Orleans market. 
These beds have been overworked and are now practically depleted. 

Large areas were formerly leased in this section — several 1,(H)() acres 
each — but have since been abandoned by the lessees. Only a small ]iortion 
remains under cultivation and lease as shown by the following : 

'ISTumber of acres under lease at present time 58S.82 

Number of active leases at present time 17 

Average size of lease in acres 34. 03 

Conditions are now changed. We have a liberal leasing law coupled 
with the fact that the natural lieds are becoming depleted and are uual)le 
to supply the demand — hence the oystcrmen will l)e com])elled to lease and 
cultivate liis own stock. 

The waters of St. Bci'unrd Parish offer excelk'ut o])])ortunities for tlie 
cultivation of oysters on a large scale, especially for the steam ])acking trade. 
The depleted reefs are now subject to lease and can, with care and cultivation, 
be made to yield large returns. 

PLAQUEMINES PARISH 

The water bottoms embraced in the area of tliis parish extend from St. 
Bernard on the East to the East shore of Barataria Bay on the West and 
on each side of the Mississip]u Biver to its mouth, and contains 171.000 
acres of oyster bottoms capable of ])roducing oysters. 

The natural reefs in this parish are located in Quarantine and California 
Bays. The oysters on these reefs are of no commercial value, owing to 
their dense growth, and can only be used when broken u]i and trans]ilanted 
to bottoms more favorable for their develoi)ment. 

Tlie following shows the aiuount of Ijottoms now under lease in Plaque- 
mines Parish : 

Xuinber of acres under lease at present time 6,1:04.08 

Xuml)er of active leases at present time 1,038 

Average size of lease in acres ().17 

Here we find that the rentals have lieen ]iaid ])roiu])tly and a large ])er- 
centage of leases are retained and w(u-ked. This is due: 

1st. To the al)sence of any ])ublic reefs of comuiercial value — 
thus forcing cultivation on leased l)eds, thereby ])ro(hicing a 
superior quality of oyster. 

2nd. An active denumd, with good prices, for oysters from tins 
territory by the Xew Orleaus market. 

The oyster industry in this ])arish is carried on more systematically than 
in any other part of the State. A great many naturalized Austrians are 
engaged in the business who devote their entire time to ]:)lanting and gather- 
ing ovsters. j\Iost of them live with their families in sul)stantial liouses 
H^hich they have built in close proximity to their bedding grounds. 

—25 — 



JEFFERSON PARISH 

This parish includes witliin its limits Barataria Bay (Grand Lake) 
and adjacent waters extending to the West shore of Ba}^ Tambour and Bay 
des Islettes and contain 28,000 acres of oyster bottoms. 

Natural Eeefs — There are no natural reefs in this parish. 

Barataria Bay (Grand Lake), Bay des Islettes and Bay Tambour at one 
time contained large natural reefs, but these are now extinct. 

The cause of destruction of these reefs appears to have been overfishing 
probably by the Booth Company, who operated a cannery at Bayou Brulot, 
some eighteen years ago, and the increased salinity of the Avater, due to the 
improvement of the levee system which has decreased the volume of fresh 
water flowing into the bay. 

From observation, it is found that the water favoral)lc for oyster life 
and culture is moving inland along the coast line of the Parishes of 
Jefferson, Lafourche and Terrcl)onne. This is due to artificial changes in 
the drainage system, levee improvements, closure of Bayou Lafourche and 
the washing away of the chain of outlying islands extending from Grand 
Island to Last Island. Oysters are now growing and leases have been made 
in waters of Lafourche and Terrel)onne which, six years ago, carried fresh 
water at all times. 

I/p to 1906, no oysters were planted or cultivated in Jefferson Parish, 
due to the foregoing conditions. In 1906, under the direction of Messrs. 
Moore and Pope, Assistants, United States Bureau of Fisheries, who were 
making experiments and investigations of the oyster bottoms of Louisiana, 
the Oyster C*ommission of Louisiana planted 60 barrels of unculled oysters 
at the upper end of Barataria Bay (Grand Lake) and Bayou St. Denis. 

The planting of these oysters has resulted in the rehalhlitation of the 
oyster industry in that parish. 

The upper part of Barataria Bay, TvTorth of Bayou du Fon, and adjacent 
waters offers exceptional op])ortunities for oyster culture. Lving South of 
Bayou du Fon, and extending to the Gulf, the water has become so salty 
and is so infested with the very destructive enemy of the oyster, the snail 
or borer. Purpura, that the fisliermen have abandoned all of their claims 
in this area. 

In order to rehal)ilitate this area, which is now l)arren, it will be 
necessary to reduce the salinity or density of the water l)y fresh water from 
the Mississippi Eiver. This can be aec()m]ilished l)y building a lock at 
some favoral)le point on the river. 

The expense of such an undertaking would be am]ily re]-)aid in making 
productive a very large area of the finest bottoms in the State. 

Water bottoms under lease and cultivation in Jefferson Parish : 

Number of acres under lease at present time 527.43 

Number of active leases at present time 59 

Average size of lease in acres 8.97 

The planting of shells for cultch is carried on in this parish more 
extensively than in any other part of the State. The fishermen, from 
interviews with them, state that the cost of bedding shells is much less 
than that of transplanting oysters and the results are far more satisfactory. 

LAFOURCHE PARISH 

The oyster regions of Lafourche includes jrart of Caminada Bay, Lake 
Eaccourci and Timbalier Bay. 

Natural Reefs — There are no natural reefs in this parish. 

—26— 



The beds at one time existing in Caminada Bay are now extinct and 
in the same condition as those in the waters of Jefferson Parish. 

The reefs in Timbalicr, wliich at one time furnished employment for 
a large number of fishermen and supplied oysters for transplanting on the 
leased beds in Plaquemines and Lafourche Parishes, are now practically 
extinct. These reefs were destroyed by overfishing and the removal and 
transplanting of uncullecl oysters to private beds, also by the ravages of the 
snail or borer, due to the closure of Bayou Lafourche. 

The closure of Bayou Lafourche has destroyed a large area of oyster 
producing bottoms in this region. It had hitherto supplied the fresh water 
that sustained oyster life, but since its closure the water in Timbalier Bay 
has become so densely saline as to inhil)it the growth of young oysters. 

Lafourche Parish has 3,000 acres of oyster liottoms susceptible of oyster 
culture. , 

The following shows leases made and acreage now under cultivation in 
Lafourche : 

"Number of acres under lease at the present time 397.01 

Number of active leases at present time 32 

Average size of lease in acres 13.40 

The principal leases and beds are now located in Lake Eaccourci, which 
six years ago was fresh water, and the West shore of Timbalier Bay. 

Lafourche Parish was at one time a large oyster producing ]iarish, but 
at the present time very few oysters are cultivated there and tlie outlook 
for an increased output is not very encouraging unless fresh water through 
Bayou Lafourche can be secured. 

TERREBONNE PARISH 

The oyster producing bottoms of Terrcl)onne extend from the West 
shore of Timbalier Bay on the East to the Atchafalaya Bay on tlie West, 
including Point-au-Fer Eeef, and contains 122.000 acres of oyster reefs and 
oyster bottoms susceptible of cultivation. 

jSTatural Eeefs — The natural reefs, exclusive of Point-au-Fer. are located 
in Bay Jmiop and Sister Lake. 

The oysters on these reefs are of a rather inferior equality and shape, 
being somewhat of a racoon tyjie. Unculled oysters are taken extensively 
from them for transplanting on ]u-ivate l)eds in Terrel^onne, Jefferson and 
as far East as Bayou Cook in Pla(|uemines. They are 1)eginning to show 
the effects of overfishing, and stringent measures shouki l)e taken to enforce 
the culling laws in order to preserve and perpetuate them. 

Point-au-Fer Eeef at the mouth of the Atchafalaya Eiver is the largest 
natural reef in the State — containing ap])roximately 50,000 acres. The 
oysters on this reef are of no commercial value di:e to their present crowded 
state and are worthless in their present condition. They never reach mar- 
ketable size as they are destroyed annually by fi-esh water during the high 
stages of the Atchafalaya Eiver. 

Shells for cultch have been used to a limited extent in this parish, 
but the planters de]iend almost entirely on the natural reefs for their supply of 
seed, and instead of assisting in the per]ietuation of the natural oyster supply 
they aid in its depletion and destruction. 

Terrebonne offers the greatest possiljilities for oyster culture. It has 
a large area of fine bottoms and depleted reefs, which can now l)e leased 
under the present law and Imilt u]) and cultivated with young oysters taken 
from Point-au-Fer Eeef. 



The fnllnwiiia- shows leases and acreao-c now iinrlor enltivation in 
Terrehonne : 

Nuinht'i- of acres under lease at tlie ])resent time 9.051.05 

Xiiniher of active leases <it ])resent time 513 

Average size of lease in acres IT. 17 

ST. MARY, IBERIA, VERMILION AND CAMERON PARISHES 

These ])arisli('s have been classed as oyster ])ri)diicino- ]iarishes. l)nt in 
a true sense thev are not. 

P^fforts have hecn made to culti\ate oysters in St. Mary, Ibeiia and 
A'ermilion. hut with little success, and at the ])resent time only Vermilion 
has any leased bottoms, which coni])rises three (;5) leases aggregating 104.56 
acres. 

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 

The following e])itomi7A'S the results of the foregoing: 
Leased Eotto:\is. 

Parish ^N'umber of Leases Acreage 

St. Bernard 17 588.82 

Plaquemines 1,038 6,404.08 

Jefferson 59 527.42 

Lafourche 32 397.01 

Terrebonne 513 9.051.05 

Vermilion 3 104.56 

Total 1,762 17,072.94 
Average size of lease in acres 9.69 

Total water bottoms, com))rising leased areas, natural reefs, and bottoms 
susc('pti])le of oyster culture: 

Parish Acres 

St. Bernard 146,500 

Plaquemines 171,000 

Jefferson 28,000 

Lafourche 3,000 

Terrebonne 122,000 

Vermilion 962 

Cameron 5( lO 

Total 471.962 

62,740 acres of natural reefs are comprised in this total area (allowing 
50,000 acres for Point-au-Fer). Deducting this, there remains 409,222 acres 
of bottoms ada])tal)le to oyster culture. Of this area your Commission can 
only figure on 10 per cent., or 40,000 acres ever being leased and cultivated 
due to the following: 

1st. While the water has the proper density for the ))ropagation 
of oysters, the greater part of the bottoms ai'c vei-y soft and 
can only l»e utilized by building them u|) — a most expensive 
undertaking. 
2nd. The insufficiency of food in the water to su]i))ort oyster life 
on such large area. 

—28— 



3rd. The law of supply and demand which regulates the oyster 
industry as it does everything else. 

While the revenues derived from the several sources of the industry 
are more than ample to meet all expenses attached to the ]iolicing- and pre- 
serving of the reefs, the Oyster De])artment of your Commissiitn can not 
at any time in the future yield a very large revenue to the State. The 
conditions do not justify it nor can you exi^ect it. 

The indirect l)t'netits derived from this industry, however, will he 
enormous. 

It will give em]»l()yment ami livelihood to a large numlier of our peo]3le. 

It will bring into the State, from the sale of its ])roducts, several 
million dollars annually, which will circulate through the channels of trade — 
thus benefiting every citizen of the State. 

Fraxk T. Payxe, 

Chief Survevor. 



—29— 



L. J. DOSSMANN, Supt. Oyster Dept. 
C. S. E. BABINGTON - Secretary. 
AMOS L. PONDER - - Attorney. 
FRANK T. PAYNE, Chief Surveyor. 
HENRY JACOBS, In Charge of Exhibit 



LIST OF GAME AND FISH WARDENS 

Acadia Church Point Maurice Barousse, 

Ascension Hope Yilla W. P. Dixon. 

Assumption Belle Eose Chas. Alonzo. 

Avoyelles Long Bridge E. M. Bordelon. 

Bienville Arcadia J. W. Allen. 

Bossier Plain Dealing J. B. Johnston. 

E. F. D. 2, Box 53. 
Caddo Blanchard Chas. W. Wasson. 

Shreveport Wm. E. Monkhouse. 

Calcasieu Lake Charles Saml E. Spence. 

Lake Arthur T. Landry. 

Vinton Jerry Corethers. 

DeEidder M. Jones. 

Caldwell Columbia W. A. Davis. 

Cameron Cameron M. W. McCall. 

Cameron A. P. Welch. 

Johnson's Bayou J. B. Erbelding. 

Catahoula Sicily Island P. H. J. Disch. 

Claiborne Athens J. E. Gandy. 

Concordia Monterey Walter S. Burley, 

DeSota .Cook T. S. Bates. 

East Baton Eouge Baton Eouge A. D. Bryan. 

Baton Eouge J. D. Garig. 

East Carroll Lake Providence G. E. Xewman. 

East Feliciana Gurley Thos. S. Eeily. 

Evangeline Ville Platte _Yoric-k Vidrine. 

Franklin Crowville W. I. Hair. 

Grant Selma T. C. Linceum. 

Iberia jSTew Iberia, Box 203 Eraste C. LeBlanc. 

Iberville .St. Gabriel A. D. Gueymard. 

Jackson Vernon J. T. McDowell. 

Jefferson Westwego Henry Gardey. 

LaSalle Xebo .: J. D. Bradford. 

Lafayette Carencro Maurice Francez. 

Lafourche Thibodaux 0. Angelloz. 

Livingston Denham Springs J. D. Barnett. 

Lincoln Euston H. 0. Warren. 

Madison Delhi A. N". Andrews. 

Tallulah Chas. Coltharp. 

Morehouse Bonita A. B. Calhoun. 

Natchitoches Natchitoches P. C. Eogers. 

Goldonna Jas. H. Weaver. 

Orleans 1615 Crete St Chas. H. Audler. 

641 France St Andrew Decosas. 

746 Louisiana Ave Jno. L. Hubert. 

Chef Menteur Jos. Schaneville. 

Ouachita S'terlington W. C. Steele. 

Plaquemines Venice G. T. Smith. 

Pointe Coupee New Eoads Jules Patin. 

Eapides Alexandria, Eoute No. 2 W. L. Duncan, Jr. 

Boyce J. E. Eay. 

Eed Eiver Coushatta .'W. H. Walmsley. 

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liichlaii(1 Tiavville ^I. H. Stevenson. 

Sabine Zwolle L. B. (lay. 

St. Bernard Estopinal Ferdinand Bel. 

St. Charles Bontte Wm. Cadow. 

St. Helena Greensburg Amos Addison. 

St. James Panlina Morgan Eoussel, Sr. 

Vacherie Cvriaqne Granier. 

St. Jolm the Baptist Eduard P. Elites Clianvin. 

St. Landrv Whiteville M. P. Stagg. 

St. Martin St. Martinville E. A. Davis. 

St. Mary Berwick A. Gihnore. 

St. Tammany Covington Anatole P. Beancoudray. 

Tangipahoa Amite Vic S])ring. 

Tensas St. Josejoh Chas. Johnston. 

Terrebonne Hoinna G. A. Breaux. 

Union Marion G. W. Cox. 

Vermilion Abbeville -..Otis Hoffpauir. 

Esther P. J. S. AYhite. 

Vernon Leesville D. H. Turner. 

Washington Franklinton E. L. ]\Iagee. 

Webster Minden Connel Fort. 

West Baton Rouge ^lark P. Allen Monch. 

West Carroll )ak Grove G. A. Schrock. 

West Feliciana Free Land C. L. Lloyd. 

Winn Monto-omerv .lohn II. Xeal. 

Pi. F. D. Box Xo. 72. 



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